What We've Been Doing + What I Love Wednesday ⋆ Growing Up Kemper

I can’t believe I’m writing this post on the first week of April! What?! February took 735 weeks to get over with and then March just flew by! Our weather has been such a roller coaster that one day we are playing at the park and exploring the city, and then the next we have the heat cranked and we’re watching it SNOW outside. Give me all the spring, please!! I’m ready for breakfast outside in our PJs, walks with our pups, and all the outdoor fun we can handle!!

Colton just recently started crawling so we are able to really get out and explore. Anyone else feel so bad for babes that are always stuck in a stroller or in the Ergo while the toddler is off having an adventure? Not that I don’t adore that sweet snuggles when you wear your baby, but I always feel like they are missing out. But now that he’s on the move, we’re taking FULL advantage!

Oh yeah, and it was Royals Opening Day this week. Gah…I LOVE baseball season!!

Jackson got a pretty nasty cold about a month ago and I took him in to the doctor last week to get his tonsils checked. Although his cold went away, his tonsils are still huge. Like almost touching in his throat huge. 🙁 After the antibiotic didn’t fix anything, we got referred to a local ENT to get checked over. That appointment isn’t for a few more weeks so poor boy has to suffer through with these marbles in his throat for a bit longer. Such a crummy start to spring for that little bug.

I’ve been clocking in some serious hours working on the blog and making it into everything I imagine before I officially launch. Launch date? Still TBD. 🙂 One of the pieces I really want to add will be what I call “What I Love Wednesdays.” My favorite thing about reading other blogs is finding new products that are tried and true, tested, and loved. I don’t have the time (nor that funds) to buy a whole bundle of products to see if I might like them. Let someone else help guide me and give me your favorites!

So here are four products that I’m loving right now!

Pressing Pause

One of my sweet friends recommended this book to me. She sent me a Snapchat (come follow me at rachelkemper :)) of this book and said, “Rach, you will LOVE!” Boy, did she nail it!

The full title is Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus. It’s simply 100 short devotionals to help busy moms and wives enter your day with a short scripture, and to calm and strengthen your heart in the name of Jesus. Each scripture is so perfectly in line with our lives as women. The authors, Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk, candidly relate those scriptures with how we can execute God’s word into our daily lives. To brighten our spirits, to exude God’s love, and become the strong, willful females that we were made to be.

I have made sure to carve out five minutes each morning where I can sit in silence to read, reflect, and pray on what these devotionals teach. I can tell you that I have entered into my day’s more at peace and more intentional since starting this book. It is just so beautifully written. I promise you won’t regret this purchase!

Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

I have been blessed with less than perfect skin. I struggle with mild acne still to this day. When I was a teenager, I know I for sure thought…this will be alllll done by the time I’m 32. HA! That silly little teenager. 🙂 My pores are number one concern when I get ready for the day. I’m not one that can just throw on some blush and mascara and run out the door. I need to always work on a base. I used to use this amazing product from Sephora but they discontinued (grrr…don’t you HATE that?!). I was on a mission to find something that worked just as good and most weren’t cutting it…until I read about this Dr. Brandt Skincare line and I went for it. This pore refiner works 10x better than my last favorite and I am so thrilled about the results! Now I need to decide if I want to jump on the whole program and see what this line can really do.

Lululemon Crop II Luxtreme

I work out at this amazing fitness studio in the Kansas City metro that is the most empowering and physically demanding workout you could imagine. It’s called Fusion Fitness and I’ve been a member for about six years now. The classes are a mix of cardio, toning, pilates, HIIT, yoga, and full on “Shock Your Body” workouts. I take an hour class and I’m a full on sweaty betty by the end (or let’s be real…like 15 minutes into the class :)). I have never been to a studio that is as much a mental challenge as it is incredible physical challenge. During every final stretch I feel so centered and so proud of what my body is capable of. It’s an incredible place! If you’re ever in KC, you just have to try!!

So back to that sweaty betty talk…I found these crops at Lululemon that are in.cred.i.ble! The new material, Luxtreme, wicks away sweat almost instantly! I think of all the hot yoga classes, intense studio classes, or does spin, these will change your life!

Power Wheels Thomas & Friends, Thomas Train with Track

Let’s be honest here for a minute. Toys are so hard. You scour online, you troll the toy aisles, and you read countless reviews. You think you’ve nailed down the perfect toy for your little that they won’t forget about in ten minutes. Then guess what? They forget about it in ten minutes and they play with a piece of tissue paper instead. It can be one of the more frustrating parts of being a parent. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that isn’t going to be worthwhile.

I will tell you that my two boys have been obsessed with this toy since the day they got it over a year ago. It gets played with every. single. day. I will rarely share a toy unless I think it’s worth it, and this one is sooo worth it. Thomas not only rides around the track, he talks, sings, and whistles. My 2.5 year old and 10 month old cruise this thing on the regular and are not even close to growing out of it!

It’s a big gift with a bigger price tag, but if you are searching for one that has some staying power, this is it!

I love getting the chance to share my favorite things with you! Have some experience with these products, too? Know of one even better (ahem…help my pores! :))? Comment below and share!